Marleen Villaneuva

Marleen Villaneuva is an Instructor in the Department of Women & Gender Studies at Texas Christian University (TCU), affiliated with AddRan College of Liberal Arts. She is a PhD candidate in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and holds an MA (2018) and BA (2013) from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on Curriculum and Instruction, Cultural Studies, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and Women’s Studies.

• Education:
• PhD Candidate, Social Justice Education, University of Toronto (ongoing)
• MA, Curriculum and Instruction (Cultural Studies in Education, Native American & Indigenous Studies), University of Texas at Austin (2018)
• BA, Spanish Literature, Women and Gender Studies, Native American & Indigenous Studies, University of Texas at Austin (2013)

Her research bridges Indigenous feminist theory with water protection practices, co-theorizing matriarchy, rematriation, and sacred geographies through collaboration with Indigenous communities in Texas. Key themes include decolonial pedagogies, environmental justice, and relational responsibilities to water and more-than-human relatives.

Recent publications explore decolonial water narratives and intersectional feminisms in environmental education contexts. While no formal awards are listed, her work emphasizes community-driven scholarship and environmental advocacy.